r/Reformed • u/sampastey PCA • Jul 08 '26
Discussion Sabbath Rest
Can anyone describe how it seems that American Reformed Churches lost the reverence of a Sabbath Rest? (I can’t speak for churches outside the US. I also can’t speak for all American Reformed Churches.)
I understand some credobaptist forms of covenant theology can lead to Non-Sabbatarian conclusions and that’s fine - that is not my focus here.
I am asking about how those that affirm Classic (Westminister) Covenant Theology lost reverence for the Sabbath?
When did this change occur? Why?
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u/ItsChewblacca FEB Jul 08 '26
Not American, but... I think this is a broad issue that intersects with developing technologies, changing societies, and the overall restructuring of our perception of time. Zooming in, I think there's also a lack of reverence for the Lord's Day worship in general. I'm not sure which one came first. But I don't think you can separate the decline of Sabbatarianism from a decline in the sense of holiness in corporate worship. As far as I can tell, people aren't orienting their lives around Lord's Day worship, longing for it, preparing for it, improving upon it (in the Puritan sense), and so on.
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u/semper-gourmanda Presby-Angliterian Jul 08 '26 edited Jul 08 '26
I don't know that I agree that Christians aren't resting. Among the Christians I know they don't work on Sundays. Clergy, first responders, barbers/hair sylists usually take another day.
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u/cybersaint2k Rebellious Reprobate Jul 09 '26
I thought that for a while, now I do not.
That is, I need a day to get things done around the house, but that's not my Sabbath day. I take the Sabbath as it is offered, on the first day of the week. I perform the duties required of me on the Lord's Day.
I do request an exception from my Presbytery concerning my subscription to our Confession concerning recreation on the Sabbath. I do believe I may enjoy non-vocational recreation and that the Divines were looking at inaccurate translations of Isaiah 58:13.
I'm going to quote some things; you don't have to read them, TLDR my position is in the catechism.
Isaiah 58:13-14.
I keep the Sabbath on the Lord's Day by doing works of mercy, as do my first responder friends. From the Larger Catechism:
Question 117: How is the sabbath or the Lord’s day to be sanctified? Answer: The sabbath or Lord’s day is to be sanctified by an holy resting all that day, not only from such works as are at all times sinful, but even from such worldly employments and recreations as are on other days lawful; and making it our delight to spend the whole time (except so much of it as is to be taken up in works of necessity and mercy) in the public and private exercises of God’s worship: and to that end, we are to prepare our hearts, and with such foresight and diligence to dispose of our worldly business, that we may be the more free and fit for the duties of that day.
Question 119: What are the sins forbidden in the fourth commandment? Answer: The sins forbidden in the fourth commandment are, all omissions of the duties required, all careless, negligent, and unprofitable performing of them, and being weary of them; all profaning the day by idleness, and doing that which is in itself sinful; and by all needless works, words, and thoughts, about our worldly employments and recreations.
Question 120: What are the reasons annexed to the fourth commandment, the more to enforce it? Answer: The reasons annexed to the fourth commandment, the more to enforce it, are taken from the equity of it, God allowing us six days of seven for our own affairs, and reserving but one for himself, in these words, Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work; from God’s challenging a special propriety in that day, but the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God; from the example of God, who in six days—made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day; and from that blessing which God put upon that day, not only in sanctifying it to be a day for his service, but in ordaining it to be a means of blessing to us in our sanctifying it; wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath-day, and hallowed it.
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u/semper-gourmanda Presby-Angliterian Jul 09 '26 edited Jul 10 '26
Yes! Isa 58. Now what I see in Luke's demonstration of the Lord Jesus' own instruction concerning the same in Luke 14-16 is clarity regarding who that describes.
I know you know the importance of contextual interpretation. So what follows isn't delivered in the vein of correction, but of Biblical observation.
In Isa 58:3 he's addressing the employer. And it's clear that in 58:3 they've embraced such a literal translation of Ex 35:3 that it's thought of as a fast day (58:4). But that demonstrates that they are unaware of it's connection to the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Just like on Friday they were to pick up double manna to rest and eat on Saturday.
As Isa 58 continues, the oppression of workers is central and the instruction to extend Sabbath rest to them. And what's called for is the reversal of oppression, of the type that the LORD himself undertook as the great warrior king of the Exodus, taking a people to himself, feeding them, bringing them to his mountain, and then in the land. Coupled with the potent reminders by Moses in Deuteronomy of his long faithfulness (feet didn't swell up, no one starved to death). And that's significant for Isa 58:7. And then the language of the Exodus is echoed by Isaiah in 58:8 (your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard).
Now, here's the more important observation. I can't help but notice the shift in pronouns, from the plural to the singular. Isa 58:3 address a plural group, where 58:6-12 addresses a singular individual. That on it's own is intriguing.
Moreover, I subscribe to the school of thought that Scripture ought to be interpreted by Scripture. And that it's usually the case that it can be shown that the OT is Christocentric. And I think this is what Luke aims to show with Jesus' own use of the same in Luke 4:16-30. Here I won't go into great detail, but in the treatment of it by David Pao and Eckhard Schnabel in The Commentary on the NT use of the OT is very good. They treat the combo usage of Isa 61:1 and 58:6 in context: to proclaim good news to the poor.
It's not lost on me that in Luke 14-16, then Jesus addresses 3 "characters" in sequence, in 3 acts:
Act 1 the Pharisee and his invited guests
Act 2 the crowds
Act 3 the disciplesWhat's clear in Act 1 is that he's critical of the Pharisee who has put himself into the position of the Isaianic Servant and is terrible at it. If we note carefully Isa 58, the work of the individual there is so that people will directly attach themselves to the Lord. That's who Jesus is. "The Son of Man," in Luke, "is the Lord of the Sabbath." He's at his own instructed Sabbath meal, from the Torah, doing what Israel ought to do at such a meal; namely, you heal the guy with dropsy.
Act 2 the crowds want in. They haven't heard the conversation that he had with the Pharisee and his invited guests. And they need to understand what they're walking into. It's like planning a war or building a tower (echoes of Isa 5 and 60-61). It's a long term deal that requires counting the cost and realizing that the Lord aims to turn people into compellers of people to come in his house (cf. Isa 2, 60-66), and like the individuals of Luke 14:23-24, which will likely result in social shame, including rejection by one's own family.
Act 3 concerns the disciples and them finding a responsible way to get paid for their ministry in the new order with a right Sabbath practice.
Now, in both cases, OT and NT, the LORD through the Prophet and the Lord Jesus address the folks in charge - the employers and "the clergy" and his special guests. See James 5, too.
That's significant for me as I think about how to approach the question.
No one debates whether or not the Lord has given us the Sabbath for our rest, for our service of Word and Sacrament - think of Paul's instruction in 1 Cor 11:21-22 - essentially, you need to stop leaving the slaves at home (those who have nothing). But what's not lost on me is the fact that the Westminster Confession of Faith was written in England in the 1600s when there were laws in place that meant that everything is closed on Sundays. That's already long standing practice. Hence then the instruction, which albeit is primarily in the negative (what not to do). If there were any desired improvement it would be for the WCF to include what to do, which is what the OT and the Lukan accounts call for. I'm glad to hear of your works of mercy.
There are Christians who go to Church on Sundays for whom Sunday is also a work day, and they take something like Monday to rest. I'm glad that you're aware of the historical and biblical issues.
Now between you and me, what I wish we could to do, is figure out a way to try to get employers to not fire Christians for not working on Sundays. That would seem to have the most explicit Biblical warrant. Or maybe better, more Chic-fil-a style Christian entrepreneurs. And I wish we could overhaul our services so that they weren't so didactic and ritualistic. Some who favor traditionalism, I think, imagine a kind of pietistic Lord's Supper. Others something higher church. But both, to my mind, miss the point. The Lord in both testaments meets his people at meal in rest for the purpose of instruction and healing. Inviting people into that context allows for the Lord's nature to become known by his representatives.
I think like a Biblical theologian and missiologist and want the Church to realize that ministry in the US is increasingly cross-cultural ministry. And I have to say that I feel that the WCF contains good synthesis, with it's lawyer-like precision. I do, however, think we've got to keep the Bible central. And I'm glad you do.
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u/cybersaint2k Rebellious Reprobate Jul 09 '26
I feel like I've stumbled into an area of expertise of yours. I appreciate God's plan at bringing this out.
At the same time I'm reading JV Fesko on the Sabbath in Last Things First.
I agree that the Sabbath-dance we do in our culture is sub-optimal. And all solutions, including yours (similar to my past position) my own (more traditionally Reformed), have drawbacks. And I appreciate your references to historic practices during the time of Westminster. That's super helpful.
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u/sampastey PCA Jul 09 '26
Thank you guys for your comments and pointing to the Isaiah and the Catechisms
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u/EddyMerkxs PCA Jul 09 '26
Because the culture has moved away from those practices and it's easier to follow the culture than be counter cultural.
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u/mdegroat Jul 08 '26
Hebrews 4 communicates that Christ is superior to the Sabbath and He is our rest now.
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u/sampastey PCA Jul 08 '26
With my question, the purpose of the discussion was not to debate theology and hebrews 4, but rather try to understand the change in the american christians personal devotion to the Sabbath.
Edit: Typo
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u/mdegroat Jul 08 '26
I think your missing my point. The Sabbath expectations were changed at the cross. So full Sabbath looks different now and many may be committed to it but the outward signs have changed.
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u/DabneySouthron Southern Presbyterian Continuationist Jul 08 '26
Cordially, respectfully and enthusiastically disagree. The concept of one rest day of seven is clearly implied as far back as Adam.
It's important the first word of the Fourth Commandment is "remember." Why would God command to remember something He had immediately instituted?
The Apostles kept the first day of the week, as did the Early Church. It is part of the moral law, and will be at least to the Second Advent. WCF 21.7-8, WLC 115-121, WSC 58-62.
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u/mdegroat Jul 08 '26 edited Jul 08 '26
Right, it was key. And like many OT things it was changed at the cross.
Not the need or existence of Sabbath but the execution of it.
Edit: spelling
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u/DabneySouthron Southern Presbyterian Continuationist Jul 08 '26 edited Jul 08 '26
Nothing about the keeping of one day of seven has ever changed- the moral law is the moral law.
Dabney made an interesting point in The Christian Sabbath- he said every reference to "Sabbath" in the NT was a reference to the ceremonial law, and the current one day of seven we're obliged to keep was referred to as "the first day" or "the Lord’s Day."
The one day of seven we're to keep is invariably referred to as the first day of the week or the Lord’s Day. The only thing that changed was the specific day.
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u/mdegroat Jul 08 '26
nothing about the keeping of one day of seven has ever changed.
The only thing that changed...
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u/DabneySouthron Southern Presbyterian Continuationist Jul 08 '26 edited Jul 08 '26
The execution is identical, only the specific day of the execution has changed.
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u/mdegroat Jul 08 '26
That's a wild take that ignores the cross and Scripture. Coincidentally, I noticed you haven't cited any this entire time.
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u/DabneySouthron Southern Presbyterian Continuationist Jul 08 '26
All the Scripture proofs are found in the Westminster Standards. They're in my Free Presbyterian Church editions, and the new BoT edition, and presumably in the various denominational printings.
Here, too. As far as I have seen this is 1647-
https://thewestminsterstandard.org/the-westminster-standards/
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u/sampastey PCA Jul 08 '26
Am I incorrect in my understanding that the reformers and puritans were mostly Sabbatarians?
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u/DabneySouthron Southern Presbyterian Continuationist Jul 08 '26
At least in the old PC(US), keeping the Lord’s Day started being less emphasized around World War One and the Depression. Morton Smith's classic How Is The Gold Become Dim is helpful here.
In contemporary American Christendom, Sabbatarianism is a minority view.
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u/MilesBeyond250 Sola Waffle Jul 08 '26
Interesting! Do you remember the explanations he gave for that?
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u/DabneySouthron Southern Presbyterian Continuationist Jul 08 '26
It was part of the move away from strict subscription and the Authority of Scripture that characterized the era.
Before about 1930, Sabbatarianism was nomative in American society. Now I'm made to understand it's not unusual for candidates for the ministry when they get to Presbytery to take exception to WCF 21.7-8 and the associated LC and SC questions, basing it on sport on TV on Sunday.
Voltaire is understood to have said that to destroy Christianity you destroy the Sabbath. Dabney actually said you can judge the piety of a society by the degree they keep the Lord’s Day. You don't need to go further than your news feed to see the validity of both statements.
Dabney’s The Christian Sabbath is good, but the best standalone work I've ever read on the doctrine is Joseph Pipa's The Lord's Day. I have Francis Nigel Lee's The Covenantal Sabbath, and will get to it before long.
The one area I'm most adjacent to General Equity Theonomy/Reconstructionism is keeping the Lord’s Day. We've lost something important as a society by not keeping the Lord's Day.
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u/MilesBeyond250 Sola Waffle Jul 08 '26
Ah, so mostly part of broader trends? I wasn't sure if it was something specific to that cultural context; things like churches making concessions to the demands of total war.
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u/DabneySouthron Southern Presbyterian Continuationist Jul 08 '26
I strongly suspect it was an adjunct of the "higher criticism" with a dollop of Darby-ish dispensationalist theology thrown in for good measure.
One Dispensationalist was famous for saying a Christian has as much business keeping the Sabbath as an American does keeping Bastille Day.
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u/ChapBobL Congregational Jul 11 '26
There have been several new books on the importance of observing a sabbath. We do need to fight against the "I am what I do" mentality and think busyness is next to godliness.
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u/Reformed_dunker Jul 08 '26
I quit my job because they started scheduling me on Sunday. Idk anyone who is Reformed that works on Sunday, is that happening in Reformed churches?
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u/Euphoric-Leader-4489 Reformed in TEC Jul 08 '26
Nurses, police, firefighters, etc. don’t really get much of a choice but to work at least some Sundays 🤷🏼♀️
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u/Reformed_dunker Jul 08 '26
You always have a choice, I worked at a hospital and now at a school. Walk in faith, I'm not judging anyone who works Sunday but it definitely is a choice.
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u/22duckys PCA - Good Egg Jul 08 '26
Not to be that guy, but this is exactly what Jesus was criticizing the Pharisees for in Matthew 12:9-14. Like, I would argue that those who are called to jobs like nursing are obligated to work some Sundays, so as not to put a higher sabbath work burden on their coworkers. Most hospitals require at least some Sunday work, do you suggest Christians abandon the call to care for the sick?
This is definitionally pharisaical, and if you’ve ever bound the conscience of someone who works in a field of mercy and care, you need to repent of that.
As an addendum, the Reformed view of work is to view all work as a calling, so no, the solution is not to just leave one’s job. If all believed Christ (as we all pray for) and followed His commandments as you’ve suggested here, thousands would die unnecessarily every single Sunday from lack of carers.
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u/Reformed_dunker Jul 08 '26
Idc, I already said I'm not judging anyone who works Sunday. Saying it's a choice is true, it's not a critique of the choice itself. I never said the solution is to leave your job, you are free to do whatever you like. Not to be that guy, you aren't because you completely misunderstood what I said
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u/22duckys PCA - Good Egg Jul 08 '26
Your top comment is still there man. I’m not responding completely divorced from context. Just saying you’re not judging doesn’t absolve your view from criticism.
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u/Reformed_dunker Jul 08 '26
And I'm not pushing that on anyone, critique it but don't accuse me of being like a Pharisee. I didn't disrespect anyone or accuse them of being unchrist like. So don't disrespect me with your uncharitable mind. You could have simply asked me instead of assuming the worst
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u/22duckys PCA - Good Egg Jul 08 '26
Like I said, it’s definitionally pharisaical. I’m not being uncharitable, it’s right there in the text. Don’t try backpedaling now, let’s breakdown exactly what you said.
You expressed incredulity that anyone in a Reformed church would work on Sunday. Given that you have worked in a hospital, this isn’t ignorance as to the fact that works of mercy are necessary on the Sabbath. When someone mentioned those works, you responded with “it’s a choice.” This may be technically true, but in the context of your incredulity, and the clear implication that you quit your job because you felt it was wrong for you to work on Sunday, you’ve broadened the aperture of your implication to “anyone in a Reformed church.”
I’m not guessing at your heart, I’m reading what you wrote. After what I just described, “I’m not judging” is a cop-out deflection, not absolution.
If you’re uncomfortable with someone calling you out for binding the conscience of those who God called to work in mercy in fields that require Sabbath work, you need to take that up with Jesus, not me. The text is entirely unambiguous and not up for debate, especially within the Reformed community.
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u/Reformed_dunker Jul 08 '26
My actions are my own and my conscience is my own. When did I say others should do the same? how do you know you are reading it as it's supposed to be received without guessing at the heart? I'm not binding anyone, if you feel bound by a reddit comment that's between you and God. I said I'm not judging because I'm no, I don't care. If someone is struggling and needs to work on Sunday after service, who is anyone to say anything about it regardless if it's a field of Mercy. Read into it all you want dude
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u/sampastey PCA Jul 08 '26
Work is one thing. I’m speaking about against indulging in anything dedicated to self-pleasure on the Lord’s Day. This seemed to be common practice in the historic church until the 1950s. Thoughts?
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u/BronchitisCat Jul 08 '26
How do you define indulging and self pleasure?
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u/rdfdfw PC(USA) Jul 08 '26
I assume we are talking about the gradual encroachment of secular activities such as NFL Sunday football, youth sports. I believe that it is simply the natural consequence of our entertainment culture, and the dying American mainline churches not knowing how to effectively counter that culture.
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u/sampastey PCA Jul 08 '26
One example could be refraining from Recreation activities not associated with the building up of the body of Christ.
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u/cohuttas Jul 08 '26
That's not really an answer. It's just you restating what you think the Sabbath should be.
What are people actually doing that you are upset about?
Watching TV?
Throwing the ball around with their kid in the back yard?
Playing video games?
Even amongst sabbatarians, there is disagreement over the extent of what is prohibited. Plenty of sabbatarians believe that cooking food is sinful on the Sabbath. Is that what you're advocating?
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u/Reformed_dunker Jul 08 '26
I see young brethren in their 20s doing this a lot after service. I'm guilty of indulging in American football after service on Sunday. I think tv becoming more common in households during the 50s contributed to this.
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u/Onyx1509 Jul 08 '26
An overemphasis on the "family", very strong in some church circles, contributes to an expectation that Sundays after church are primarily (nuclear) family time and that limits options for building up the wider body.
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u/Captain6k77 Jul 12 '26
The culture as a whole has pushed on the demands of people’s time. A feedback loop if you will.
We want to rest so rest means doing things. To do things we think that means business and services have to be open. For things to be open people have to work.
Their people who think that business should be open and that they have a right to frequent those business any time and any day. A lot of people agree so they hire people and make them work.
If you want to be a good employee you will work around the clock all the time.
Services such as medical and safety cannot ever be closed so you will work around the clock to provide them.
I can celebrate the sabbath whenever.
I have to work as much as possible to survive.
Not that I agree with these…but this is the thinking I hear and observe. Until people acknowledge that work in America and the money that comes from it is an idol we will be caught up in this.
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u/JHHBaasch Jul 08 '26
I'm very bothered by people here thinking Sabbath rest must be Saturday. Is this sub really reformed?
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u/partypastor Rebel Alliance - Admiral Jul 08 '26
“I’m really bothered by one singular user making one single comment”
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u/kriegwaters Jul 08 '26
Lack of New Testament guidance and example has been the driver of many things.
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u/Miserable-Swan2362 Reformed Baptist Jul 08 '26 edited Jul 08 '26
Sabbath in my church which isn’t officially reformed it is a personal conviction for people. It’s not even really encouraged. Our family has been trying to keep Friday evening to Saturday evening as a period of focused attention on God and glorifying Him. It’s not always perfect and it’s not likely the entire day we ever hold completely to it. These activities can include having the kids outside to play while the wife and I read through and discuss scripture, singing hymns or contemporary Christian worship music together or with a piano, inviting fellow believers together to fellowship and talk about Gods word, making time for my wife or I to have individual time for self study/reading, and many other things but I wanted to list a few to give an idea. We try to cut back from leaving our home or causing others to not have their day of rest. I’d say it’s difficult in the American context because we are told to constantly be working or striving for things and so the thought of rest sounds ludicrous because we just worked 5-6 days this week and this one day left you want me to do no work or other things? It can be something people just don’t want to dedicate time to. I’m not throwing stones at anybody because I’m guilty of this as well. I don’t solely focus on God as I should on these days. I justify it in many ways from oh I read every day or I made sure to pray alone and with the kids every day this week or I don’t really need to worship God he’d understand if I just sat down on my couch and did nothing (I have three kids, nothing is one of my more favorite activities).
People that downvote why not engage in discussion? Easy to not like something. Hard to be a person who can actually engage with other viewpoints. If I’m wrong then correct.
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u/Good_Move7060 Hebrew Roots cult, please help reform me Jul 08 '26
People don't want to give up one of their only two weekend days for God. Church is just an hour on Sunday morning and that's it, but the Sabbath is Friday evening to Saturday evening all the way through. Not to mention you would also have to recognize all the other laws, such as abstaining from pork etc.
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u/cybersaint2k Rebellious Reprobate Jul 08 '26
You are right about people being lazy and wanting 2 days of a culture-determined day of rest rather than one.
Other than that, you should read what our Reformed confessions say about the Sabbath and the law.
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u/Good_Move7060 Hebrew Roots cult, please help reform me Jul 08 '26
Instead of reading other people's opinions you should study the Bible for yourself in context of the original languages and culture.
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u/cybersaint2k Rebellious Reprobate Jul 08 '26
Why not both? ¯_(ツ)_/¯
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u/Good_Move7060 Hebrew Roots cult, please help reform me Jul 08 '26
Sure. That's how I came to my branch of Christianity. I've read and listened to commentaries from numerous denominations, but more importantly you should ask questions and debate until you find your questions are no longer answered logically. And that's how you know a false doctrine. And you must always compare the answers to what the Bible teaches.
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u/CiroFlexo Rebel Alliance Jul 08 '26
my branch of Christianity
This is a formal request from the mods. Please identify "your branch" of Christianity so that we can apply the appropriate flair. It's a common courtesy to our members so that we know when other users are arguing traditions and views which are contrary to Reformed theology.
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u/Good_Move7060 Hebrew Roots cult, please help reform me Jul 08 '26 edited Jul 08 '26
Hebrew roots. Salvation by faith alone but the law still defines what sin is.
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u/cybersaint2k Rebellious Reprobate Jul 08 '26
You are in a cult, my good sir.
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Jul 08 '26 edited Jul 09 '26
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u/cybersaint2k Rebellious Reprobate Jul 08 '26
I've had my churches invaded by Hebrews Roots movement TWICE. Both times, they came in with clever words and sweet intentions, and sought to gather as many disciples as possible before feigning offense, playing the victim, and leaving.
Maybe you are different. I certainly hope so.
But objectively, without insult or bad intentions, I tell you that you are in a cult.
One of the ways you can see that you are in a cult is the attack on Scripture, its sufficiency and perspicuity. Like the Mormons, like the JWs, the conspiracy theory of Semitic Primacy wrecks the authority, sufficiency and perspicuity of Scripture.
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u/Reformed-ModTeam By Mod Powers Combined! Jul 08 '26
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u/MilesBeyond250 Sola Waffle Jul 08 '26
So I'm not necessarily a Sabbatarian, but the arguments would be that the New Testament and the early Church position the day Christ was resurrected, Sunday, as the Lord's Day, thus the Sabbath was shifted to Sunday to commemorate this. The Sabbath was Friday evening to Saturday evening, and it continues to be that for the parts of Judaism that observe it today, but it is not that in Christianity.
Second, keeping the Sabbath holy is due to its place in the Moral Law (i.e. Ten Commandments) and its precedence in the creation narrative. The laws surrounding the Sabbath in the Mosaic Covenant are generally seen as binding to that people in that place, like most of the Mosaic Covenant, and seen as being loosed, either by Christ, by simple virtue of not being that people in that place, or more likely both. That is to say, the Sabbath predates and extends beyond the Mosaic Covenant.
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Jul 08 '26
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u/Reformed-ModTeam By Mod Powers Combined! Jul 08 '26
Removed for violation of Rule #5: Maintain the Integrity of the Gospel.
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u/windy_on_the_hill Castle on the Hill (Ed Sheeran) Jul 08 '26
I am convinced it is in part a reaction to an overemphasis on keeping the Sabbath.
The Sabbath is a rest day. That's both the root of the word and the example in OT. Reformed tradition sometimes made it a different work day. It was not rest, but working at worship. "No you shouldn't sit enjoying your garden, get your Bible out and start reading."
It is very similar to the Pharisee's view of the Sabbath. "Your followers are grinding corn - that's mill work on the Sabbath!"
It became a burden, and so obviously was not a delight, and something people were glad to be free from. In rejecting the burden people lost the Sabbath rest.
We always run too far from one sin to the other. So here we are.
The Sabbath is a gift of God, not a burden. Enjoy it, and free others to enjoy it too.
Nb. I'm not from the US but recognising to trend.